![]() The narrator argues that instead of observing people from a scientific and psychological perspective, scientists try to "imagine designs" that demonstrate how physical attributes dictate behavior instead of accepting some behavior is inherent. In "The Imp of the Perverse," the narrator contends, "he intellectual or logical man, rather than the understanding or observant man, set himself to imagine designs - to dictate the purposes to God" (Poe 280). "The Imp of the Perverse" appears to be at first an essay written by Poe that seeks to explain impulsive behavior, however, it is soon revealed the story is told from an unnamed narrator's perspective. It was important for Poe to define the imp of the perverse in the essay part of the short story, as this concept became a prominent theme in subsequent stories. In "The Imp of the Perverse," Poe introduces the concept of phrenology, a science that seeks to establish and define the relationship between an individual's character and the skull's morphology and how phrenology has failed to explain impulsive behavior ("The History of Morphology"). Through these stories, Poe explores the impact a mental illness has on the narrator's and how each of the narrators attempts to justify their behavior. ![]() In Poe's "Imp of the Perverse," "The Tell-Tale Heart," and "The Black Cat," the respective narrators of these stories attempt to give a logical explanation for the manner in which they conducted themselves. Edgar Allan Poe is known for exploring the psychological constructs of horror and terror through his short stories. ![]()
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